Manchester United have insisted Rio Ferdinand remains on schedule with his recovery from knee ligament damage, although the 31-year-old is unlikely to be match fit for the opening game of the new Premier League season.

United estimate Ferdinand will be sidelined for 10 weeks with the injury sustained at England's World Cup training base in Rustenburg on 4 June, a timeframe that sets the defender's comeback for 13 August and the club's opening league game at home to Newcastle United, currently scheduled for Saturday 14 August.

Ferdinand, however, will have missed a significant part of United's pre-season training programme by the time Newcastle arrive at Old Trafford and his return is more likely to come later that month.

The England captain is making progress with his rehabilitation but will not be included in the United squad that embarks on a two-week tour of North America next week.

He is also expected to miss the Community Shield game against Chelsea on 8 August plus England's friendly against Hungary three days later, although Chris Smalling's arrival from Fulham this summer has improved Sir Alex Ferguson's options in central defence.